Career and Education Opportunities for Tax Examiners in Cambridge, Massachusetts

There is a wide variety of career and education opportunities for tax examiners in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area. Currently, 2,440 people work as tax examiners in Massachusetts. This is expected to shrink by 1% to about 2,420 people by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for tax examiners, which sees this job pool growing by about 13.0% over the next eight years. Tax examiners generally determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

Tax examiners earn approximately $29 per hour or $60,540 per year on average in Massachusetts. Nationally they average about $23 per hour or $48,100 annually. Tax examiners earn less than people working in the category of Accounting and Auditing generally in Massachusetts and less than people in the Accounting and Auditing category nationally. Jobs in this field include: tax agent, merchandise examiner, and tax compliance representative.

There are 149 schools of higher education in the Cambridge area, including twenty-eight within twenty-five miles of Cambridge where you can get a degree to start your career as a tax examiner. Given that the most common education level for tax examiners is some college courses, you can expect to spend a short time training to become a tax examiner if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Tax Examiner

Tax Examiner video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, tax examiners determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

Tax examiners maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial data. They also maintain records for each case. Finally, tax examiners contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.

Every day, tax examiners are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to read and understand documents and reports. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for tax examiners to notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment. They are often called upon to collect taxes from individuals or businesses in line with prescribed laws and regulations. They also talk with taxpayers or their representatives to consider the issues and regulations involved in returns, and to deal with problems with returns. They are sometimes expected to send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent. Somewhat less frequently, tax examiners are also expected to examine and analyze tax assets and liabilities to establish resolution of delinquent tax problems.

Tax examiners sometimes are asked to ready briefs, and help in searching and seizing records to ready charges and documentation for court cases. They also have to be able to enter tax return data into computers for processing And finally, they sometimes have to maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial data.

Like many other jobs, tax examiners must have exceptional integrity and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Cambridge include:

Accountant. Analyze financial information and prepare financial reports to determine or maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.

Assessor. Appraise real and personal property to determine its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.

Budget Analyst. Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports for the purpose of maintaining expenditure controls.

Credit Analyst. Analyze current credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with this credit information for use in decision-making.

Loan Counselor. Provide guidance to prospective loan applicants who have problems qualifying for traditional loans. Guidance may include determining the best type of loan and explaining loan requirements or restrictions.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Tax Examiner Training

Bentley University - Waltham, MA

Bentley University, 175 Forest St, Waltham, MA 02452-4705. Bentley University is a medium sized university located in Waltham, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 5,675 students and an admission rate of 38%. Bentley University has 2 areas of study related to Tax Examiner. They are:

Taxation, master's degree and post-master's certificate which graduated eighty-six and twenty-one students respectively in 2008.

Gibbs College-Boston - Boston, MA

Gibbs College-Boston, 126 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116. Gibbs College-Boston is a small college located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 264 students. Gibbs College-Boston has an associate's degree program in Accounting.

Stonehill College - Easton, MA

Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, Easton, MA 02357-6110. Stonehill College is a small college located in Easton, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 2,426 students and an admission rate of 45%. Stonehill College has one to two year, bachelor's degree, and master's degree programs in Accounting which graduated two, zero, and seven students respectively in 2008.

Quinsigamond Community College - Worcester, MA

Quinsigamond Community College, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606-2092. Quinsigamond Community College is a medium sized college located in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,227 students. Quinsigamond Community College has a one to two year program in Accounting which graduated one student in 2008.

Bay State College - Boston, MA

Bay State College, 122 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116. Bay State College is a small college located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 732 students and an admission rate of 78%. Bay State College has an associate's degree program in Accounting.

Massasoit Community College - Brockton, MA

Massasoit Community College, One Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton, MA 02302-3996. Massasoit Community College is a medium sized college located in Brockton, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,394 students. Massasoit Community College has an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated sixteen students in 2008.

Fisher College - Boston, MA

Fisher College, 118 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02116. Fisher College is a small college located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,262 students and an admission rate of 62%. Fisher College has an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated eleven students in 2008.

Gordon College - Wenham, MA

Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MA 01984. Gordon College is a small college located in Wenham, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,700 students and an admission rate of 71%. Gordon College has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated eight students in 2008.

Salem State College - Salem, MA

Salem State College, 352 Lafayette St, Salem, MA 01970. Salem State College is a large college located in Salem, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 10,168 students and an admission rate of 58%. Salem State College has a less than one year and a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated zero and forty-five students respectively in 2008.

Salter College-West Boylston - West Boylston, MA

Salter College-West Boylston, 184 West Boylston Suite # 1, West Boylston, MA 01583. Salter College-West Boylston is a small college located in West Boylston, Massachusetts. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 852 students. Salter College-West Boylston has a one to two year and an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated eighteen and four students respectively in 2008.

Fitchburg State College - Fitchburg, MA

Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St, Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697. Fitchburg State College is a medium sized college located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 6,400 students and an admission rate of 66%. Fitchburg State College has a master's degree program in Accounting which graduated two students in 2008.

Northeastern University - Boston, MA

Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115-5000. Northeastern University is a large university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 25,368 students and an admission rate of 35%. Northeastern University has 2 areas of study related to Tax Examiner. They are:

Accounting, associate's degree, two to four year, bachelor's degree, and master's degree which graduated five, two, zero, and 112 students respectively in 2008.

Taxation, master's degree which graduated 25 students in 2008.

Merrimack College - North Andover, MA

Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845. Merrimack College is a small college located in North Andover, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 2,154 students and an admission rate of 79%. Merrimack College has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated one student in 2008.

Suffolk University - Boston, MA

Suffolk University, 8 Ashburton Pl Beacon Hill, Boston, MA 02108-2770. Suffolk University is a medium sized university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 7,783 students and an admission rate of 82%. Suffolk University has 2 areas of study related to Tax Examiner. They are:

Lasell College, 1844 Commonwealth Ave, Newton, MA 02466-2716. Lasell College is a small college located in Newton, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,484 students and an admission rate of 61%. Lasell College has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated ten students in 2008.

Northern Essex Community College - Haverhill, MA

Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830-2399. Northern Essex Community College is a medium sized college located in Haverhill, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,020 students. Northern Essex Community College has an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated twenty-one students in 2008.

Assumption College - Worcester, MA

Assumption College, 500 Salisbury St, Worcester, MA 01609-1296. Assumption College is a small college located in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 2,888 students and an admission rate of 71%. Assumption College has less than one year, associate's degree, and bachelor's degree programs in Accounting which graduated four, zero, and two students respectively in 2008.

Newbury College-Brookline - Brookline, MA

Newbury College-Brookline, 129 Fisher Ave, Brookline, MA 02445. Newbury College-Brookline is a small college located in Brookline, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 1,042 students. Newbury College-Brookline has less than one year, associate's degree, and bachelor's degree programs in Accounting which graduated zero, zero, and sixteen students respectively in 2008.

Atlantic Union College - South Lancaster, MA

Atlantic Union College, 338 Main St, South Lancaster, MA 01561-1000. Atlantic Union College is a small college located in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 384 students. Atlantic Union College has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated zero and one students respectively in 2008.

Nichols College - Dudley, MA

Nichols College, Center Rd, Dudley, MA 01571-5000. Nichols College is a small college located in Dudley, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,520 students and an admission rate of 65%. Nichols College has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting which graduated one student in 2008.

Nashua Community College - Nashua, NH

Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St, Nashua, NH 03063-1026. Nashua Community College is a small college located in Nashua, New Hampshire. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 1,925 students. Nashua Community College has a less than one year and an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated two and twelve students respectively in 2008.

Babson College - Wellesley, MA

Babson College, Babson Park, Wellesley, MA 02457-0310. Babson College is a small college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 3,437 students and an admission rate of 35%. Babson College has a master's degree program in Accounting which graduated twenty students in 2008.

Quincy College - Quincy, MA

Quincy College, 24 Saville Ave, Quincy, MA 02169. Quincy College is a small college located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 4,080 students. Quincy College has an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated eighteen students in 2008.

Boston College - Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Boston College is a large college located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 14,623 students and an admission rate of 26%. Boston College has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree program in Accounting which graduated fifty-six and seventy-six students respectively in 2008.

University of Massachusetts-Boston - Boston, MA

University of Massachusetts-Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125-3393. University of Massachusetts-Boston is a large university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 14,117 students and an admission rate of 63%. University of Massachusetts-Boston has a master's degree program in Accounting which graduated thirty-four students in 2008.

Massachusetts Bay Community College - Wellesley Hills, MA

Massachusetts Bay Community College, 50 Oakland St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-5399. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a medium sized college located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 4,975 students. Massachusetts Bay Community College has an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated nine students in 2008.

Bunker Hill Community College - Boston, MA

Bunker Hill Community College, 250 New Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129-2925. Bunker Hill Community College is a medium sized college located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 9,500 students. Bunker Hill Community College has a less than one year and an associate's degree program in Accounting which graduated one and twenty-seven students respectively in 2008.

Boston University - Boston, MA

Boston University, One Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215. Boston University is a large university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 31,669 students and an admission rate of 59%. Boston University has a bachelor's degree program in Accounting.

CERTIFICATIONS

Accredited Tax Advisor:
This credential is for practitioners who handle sophisticated tax planning issues, including ownership of closely held businesses, qualified retirement plans and complex estates.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cambridge, Massachusetts photo by Scs

Cambridge is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It has a population of over 105,596, which has grown by 4.2% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Cambridge, 142, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Cambridge are priced at $1,078,700 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, twelve new homes were constructed in Cambridge, down from twenty-five the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Cambridge are educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and health care. For men, it is educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and health care. The average travel time to work is about 24 minutes. More than 65.1% of Cambridge residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 38.5%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Cambridge is 5.6%, which is less than Massachusetts's average of 8.4%.

The percentage of Cambridge residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 73.6%, is more than both the national and state average. Western Avenue Baptist Church, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapel and Cambridgeport Baptist Church are some of the churches located in Cambridge. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church.

Cambridge is home to the Great Court and the Cutter Square as well as John A Ahern Field and Sheridan Square. Shopping malls in the area include Porter Square Shopping Center, The Atrium Shopping Center and Cambridgeside Galleria Shopping Center.